A former Lisburn car dealership site has been approved for a major £20m social housing development
A former Lisburn car dealership site has been approved for a major £20m social housing development.
The plans were unanimously approved at a recent meeting of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s planning committee.
Banbridge-based Lotus Homes is now set to build 75 new homes on the site of the former Charles Hurst Vauxhall showroom on the Belfast Road, Lisburn. An agent for the applicant said: "There is a high need for social housing in Lisburn and this development will mark a £20m investment with 60 construction jobs created. “There have been a lot of discussions with DfI (Department for Infrastructure) with a betterment plan for the road which will be a vast improvement.
“There have also been discussions with NI Water for a sewage water solution.”
The plans include 60 homes for social housing and 15 for private rental. A council officer added: “Lisburn is an area most suitable for this type of development with connections to schools and medical infrastructure, we are right at the top of the tree.”
The Charles Hurst dealership, considered the largest motor group in Northern Ireland, closed down its Lisburn showroom in 2024 with the loss of 100 jobs. Councillor Pat Catney said: "I welcome this development of the old Vauxhall site and I would like to think there will be more hope for other brown field sites such as Hilden Mill.
“I will trust the operation of this housing will be done with caution as there is a very settled community there.”
Alderman Owen Gawith added: "This is an excellent development on a site which has been an eye sore for some time.”